Material handling apparatus



0a. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 27,1953 A. A. SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-$heet 2 Filed May31. 1950 INVENTOR Aueus'r A. SAUL FIIIL Ilulll N Mm Oct. 27, 1953 A. A.SAUL MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR AUGUST A. SAUL.

Oct. 27, 1953 A. A. SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORAUGUST A.SAUL

Oct. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-$heet 5 INVENTORAUGUST A. SAUL Get. 27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORAUGUST A. SAUL Oct.27, 1953 SAUL 2,657,048

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 31. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 I 31.10; T :9? &9?

INVENTOR AUGUST A.SAUL.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 2,657,048 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS August A.Saul,

Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Miller PrintingMachinery 00., Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation ofApplication May 31, 1950, Serial No. 165,297

53 Claims.

This invention relates to material handling apparatus. It has to do withcertain structural features of material handling apparatus havingadvantages in. utility, economy and simplicity of operation.

In its broader aspects my invention is applicable to materialhandlingapparatus generally. I have utilized the invention in the feeding ofsheets to presses and in certain of its narrower aspects the inventionhas especial utility in presses and feeders therefor.

For purposes of explanation and illustration I shall describe theinvention in. relation to its embodiment in a feeder for presses.

The particular feeder in which the invention is disclosed as beingembodied is a sheet feeder for delivering sheets sequentially to acylinder, as to the impression cylinder of a flat bed and cylinder typeprinting or cutting and creasing press. In such a press sheets aredelivered along a feed board to the cylinder where they are taken bygrippers on the cylinder, each sheet in turn being carried by thecylinder through one revolution thereof during which it is pressedagainst the form on the bed. The sheet is then removed from the cylinderand delivered to a pile.

The sheets being fed are supplied in a pile in the feeder. Sheets aretaken one by one from the top of the pile and. delivered along the feedboard to the cylinder as above described. The feeder herein disclosed isof the type in which the sheets are taken one by one from the top of thepile by suction fingers. Those suction fingers deliver each sheet to asecond set of suction fingers which moves the sheet forward along thefeed board to a position intermediate the ends of the feed board. Whenthe sheet reaches the intermediate position it is released by the secondset of suction fingers and held temporarily on the feed board bysuction. The second set of suction fingers is then retracted to pick upthe succeed ing sheet and a third set of suction fingers takes the sheetfrom its intermediate position on the feed board and delivers it intoregistry with the cylinder whence it is taken by the cylinder grippers.The two sets of. suction fingers operating on the feed board .(i. e.,the second and third sets above referred to) may be mountedon a commoncarriage oscillatable along the feed board so that they automaticallyoperate in synchronism when one of those sets of suction fingers isfeeding a sheet from the suction fingers which. remove it from the topof the pile to the intermediate position on the feed board the otherthereof is feeding the preceding sheet along the feed board from theintermediate position to the position of re istry with the cylinder.Side registering means are provided for insuring proper side registry ofthe sheets.

As sheets are taken from the top of the pile in the feeder that pil'ebecomes shorter and to compensate for the gradual reduction in theheight'of the pile the pile is moved upwardly step by step.

The upward movement of the pile must be properly regulated to insurethat the top of the pile is always at the proper height. This is done bywhat is known in the art as a pile governor.

It is difficult or impossible to work on the form or the cylinder or,indeed, any of the mechanism located generally beneath the feed boardwhen the latter is in operative position. Hence it is known in the artto move the feed board to inoperative or relatively out of the wayposition when such work is to be done. Feed boards used in feeders ofthe type above referred to have generally been pivoted at the endthereof remote from the cylinder. Because feed boards have been sopivoted it has generally been necessary, due to the mass of the feedboard and the mechanism carried thereby and the power required to movethe feed board between operative and inoperative positions, to employmechanism providing great mechanical advantage for effecting themovement. The mechanism heretofore generally employed has included amanually operable crank turning a worm meshing with a worm wheelconnected with the feed board so that when the crank is turned the feedboard is swung up or down very slowly. Valuable time is wasted andunnecessary energy is expended. It may be necessary to move the feedboard between operative and inoperative positions a considerable numberof times in making ready a form for printing or cutting and creasing andif the feed board has to be laboriously cranked back and forth each timethe working efficiency of the apparatus is greatly reduced.

Sometimes whenparticular work is to be done inside the press it is notsufiicient to simply move the feed board to inoperative position; it maybe desired to move the entire feeder to out of the way position. It hasheretofore been customary to connect the feeder to the press frame by avertical pivot so that the entire feeder can be swung horizontallybetween opera-tive position in relation to the press and inoperativeposition whenthe pressand the inside of the feeder are laid wide openfor access. Such mounting of the feeder has posed problems in drivingthe feeder carriage and the pile governor. Driving mechanism hasheretofore been employed which either has been subject to disconnectionwhen the feeder is swung out to inoperative position or has been undulycomplex and expensive or both. Generally the driving mechanism for thefeeder carriage and the pile governor has included separ "bleconnections from the press drive which are disconnected each time thefeeder is swung out to inoperative position and reconnected each timethe feeder is swung back to operative position with consequent wear onthe parts due to friction and impact.

The mechanism heretofore employed i erating the pile governor has beenunduly complex and expensive. It has included, in addition to anindividual separable driving connection sheets in the feeder and foroperating the pile elevator with control means interposed between suchseparate means activating the pile elevator when the feeler descends apredetermined distance'. This has entailed duplication of parts. Thepile elevator drive has included a ratchet and a pawl cooperating withthe ratchet, the pawl being stationary except when it is activated bythe feeler. Provision for activating the pawl under such circumstanceshas necessitated the employment of unduly complicated mechanismincluding an undue number of parts. Moreover, the feeler operatingmechanism has been undesirably complex and has involved the continualoscillation of parts of considerable mass.

I have devised material handling apparatus which may be embodied in afeeder of the general type above referred to but which is l-arge1y newin construction and which solves certain of the above mentionedproblems. Other of the above mentioned problems have been solved byAndrew Neuhart whose application Serial No. 165,146 was filed of evendate with this applica tion. The Neuhart application and this appli- Vcation disclose the same feeder because the improvements which I havemade and those which Mr. Neuhart has made mutually cooperate with eachother, but my improvements are claimed in this application while thosemade by Mr. Neuhart are claimed in his application.

I provide for rapid easy movement of the feed board between operativeand inoperative positions. I provide greatly simplified but at the sametime rugged and effective driving mechanism so that I can manufacture atgreatly reduced cost a feeder accomplishing all the functions of priorfeeders of the type in question and, indeed, accomplishing some of thosefunctions in superior manner.

I preferably mount the feed board for pivotal movement about itsmid-portion. In apparatus in which the impression cylinder is mountedabout a horizontal axis the feed board when operative is disposedgenerally horizontally with the discharge end thereof adjacent thecylinder near the top thereof. I preferably provide a cross shaftextending transversely of the apparatus parallel to the cylinder shaftand I mount the feed board to turn about the axis of that shaft. Asabove indicated, the axis of turning of the feed board is preferably atthe mid-portion of the feed board. By mid-portion I mean the portion ofthe feed board removed from both ends; I do not necessarily mean thelongitudinal center of the feed board, indeed, the feed board isnormally mounted so that when it is in operative position it has more ofits mass disposed at one side or" the axis of the horizontal pivot aboutwhich it turns than at the other side. However, when the feed board ispivoted at its mid-portion it is not greatly overbalanced and may easilybe turned manually between generally horizontal operative position andmore nearly vertical inoperative position in which the bed and portionsof the interior mechanism of the press are made available to thepressman. The result can be accomplished by tilting the feed board to anangle of in the neighborhood of 45 to the horizontal. I preferablyprovide means including spring means acting on the feed board assistingin raising the side thereof at which the greater mass is disposed whenthe feed board is 4 manually turned from operative to inoperativeposition. Such means also cushions the return of the feed board frominoperative to operative position. I provide means for locking the feedboard in operative position and means for latching it in inoperativeposition. By mounting the feed board to pivot about its mid-portion andeliminating cranking and similar mechanism for moving it such as hasheretofore been employed I provide for virtually instantaneous manualmovement of the feed board between generally horizontal operativeposition and more nearly vertical inoperative position. The means forlocking the feed board in operative position may be released, the feedboard may in a single rapid manually effected motion be swung up and bya simple latch device the feed board may be latched in inoperativeposition while the form is being worked on. When the work is completedthe latch may be released, the feed board may be instantaneously swungback to operative position and the feed board may be locked in placeready for operation.

As above mentioned the carriage which embodies the means for moving thesheets along the feed board is mounted on and oscillates along the feedboard. It is convenient and desirable to effect oscillation of thecarriage by oscillating the shaft about whose axis the feed board ispivoted. The osciilating shaft may carry suitable driving means such aspinions meshing with rack on the feed board, or a single pinion and rackdrive may suflice. I provide for insuring against driving of thecarriage along the feed board except when the feed board is locked inoperative position. I provide an operating member for operating the lockwhich locks the feed board in operative position and I provide mechanismconnected with and operated by that member in an unlocking movementwhich renders inoperative the driving means for the carriage. At thesame time I preferably provide another connection from the operatingmember which moves into the of the carriage a stop device limitingmovement of the carriage toward the feeder end of the apparatus when thefeed board is tilted to inoperative position; otherwise the carriagemight strike the pile of sheets. I preferably provide a generallyhook-shaped stop memher which when the feed board is unlocked fromoperative position moves generally parallel to the direction of movementof the carriage into position to intercept the carriage if throughgravity it should upon tilting of the feed board tend to move toward thefeeder pile. Desirably the hook is a resilient hook which resilientlyholds a portion of the carriage so that once the carriage has becomeengaged with the hook it is held against substantial movement in eitherdirection until either the feed board is locked in operative position orthe pressman positively moves the carriage toward the cylinder so thatit is disengaged from the resilient hook.

I provide novel and simplified driving mechanism for the feedercarriage, a portion of which driving mechanism may be employed foroperating the pile governor. I preferably mount upon the vertical pivotwhich pivotally connects the feeder to the press frame an operatingmember which is adapted to oscillate vertically along that pivot.Oscillation is effected by a crank device operated from the main pressdrive. The operating member may be in the form or" a sleeve disposedabout the vertical pivot. I provide a connection between that sleeve anda driving memher in the feeder, which connection is maintained at alltimes regardless of whether the feeder is swung to open position aboutthe vertical pivot and regardless of whether the feed board is swung toinoperative position about its horizontal pivot. For example, the sleevemay carry at its outer surface a transversely curved rack and a drivingpinion may be mounted on the feeder which is at all times in mesh withthat rack. The pinion may swing about the axis of the vertical pivotwhen the feeder is swung out to open position and swung back again toclosed position, remaining always in mesh with the rack. For strengthand simplicity I prefer to employ a circular rack so that the rackitself in effect forms the sleeve surrounding the vertical pivot. Thedriving pinion is preferably loosely mounted on the cross shaft aboutwhich the feed board pivots in movement between operative andinoperative positions. Means are provided for moving that pinion axiallyof the shaft between a position in which it turns freely on the shaftand a position in which it engages the shaft and causes the shaft toturn with it. For example, I may mount fixedly on the shaft an insidegear and move the pinion into and out of mesh with the inside gear, theinside gear and pinion forming a disconnectable posi tive driveconnection. To insure proper timing of the parts I may provide a pin onthe pinion or gear projecting toward the other thereof which ridesaround until it enters a socket, thus interengaging the pinion with theinside gear in proper timed relationship.

Preferably the shaft on which the driving pinion is disposed fixedlycarries a pinion or pinions meshing with a rack or racks on the carriagewhich oscillates along the feed board, as above suggested. Preferablythe driving pinion is resiliently urged into operative position, i. e.,into mesh with the inside gear whereby to oscillate the shaft and henceoscillate the carriage on the feed board. The operating member whichlooks the feed board in operative poistion preferably has connectedtherewith means moving the driving pinion to inoperative positionagainst the spring action when the feed board is unlocked preparatory toswinging it to its inoperative posi-- tion. When the feed board is swungbaclr to operative position and locked in that position the drivingpinion is released so that the spring means returns it to operativeposition for oscillating the carriage.

As mentioned above, side registering means are provided for insuringproper side registry of the sheets as they are presented to the cylindergrippers. Side registering means are commonly employed in sheet feeders.I provide a simplified and improved operating mechanism for the sideregistering or side guiding means effectively operating such meanswithout utilization of complex mechanism heretofore employed. The sideguiding means are oscillated transversely of the direction of advance ofthe sheets in synchronismwith the oscillation of the carriage. Ipreferably provide a connection from the oscillatable horizontal shaftabout which the carriage is pivoted for oscillating the side, guidingmeans. The connec tion may include rotary cam means on the shaft.Desirably I provide a cam groove in a side face of a pinion keyed to theshaft meshing with a rack on the bottom of the carriage for oscillatingthecarriage along the feed board, a cam follower operating in the camgroove and a connection from the cam follower to the side guiding meanswhereby the side guiding means are oscillated transversely of thedirection of advance of the sheets in synchronism with the oscillationof the carriage.

other details, objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent as the following description of a present preferred embodimentthereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodimentof the invention in which Figure 1 is an elevational view from theoperators side of a sheet feeder applied to a printing press, portionsof the feeder and press not form ing part of the invention claimed beingcut away:

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1 butviewed from the gear side of the press;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevational view of a portionof the structure Shown in Figure 2, the feed board being shown inoperative position;

Figure 3a is a view similar to Figure 3 but showing the feed board ininoperative position;

Figure 4. is an enlarged fragmentary detail vertical cross-sectionalview of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1 and taken on theline IV-IV of Figure 5;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the structure;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical transverse cross-sectional view takenon the line VIVI of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a more or less diagrammaticfragmentary elevational viewshowing the feed board in operative and inoperative positions;

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal cross-sectional view takenon the line VIE-VIII of Figure 5;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of thestructure;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the structure shown inFigure 9 and Figure 11 is a fragmentary vertical transversecross-sectional view taken on the line XI--XI of Figure 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shownapparatus comprising a printing press designated generally by referencenumeral 2 and a sheet feeder for feeding sheets one by one to theprinting press, the feeder be ing designated generally by referencenumeral .3. The press as shown is of the horizontal flat bed andcylinder type; the press itself may be conventional. The press frame isdesignated by reference numeral 4 and is mounted in stationary position.The impression cylinder is shown diagrammatically at 5. The impressioncylinder turns in the counterclockwise direction viewing Figure 1 and isprovided with cylinder grippers for taking one by one the sheets fedthereto by the feeder, each sheet being carried by the impressioncylinder for one revolution during which it is pressed against theprinting form on the oscillating bed as well known to those skilled intheart. The printed sheet is delivered from the cylinder toward the leftviewing Figure 1 in well known manner. Since the present invention isconcerned with material handling apparatus illustrated herein as beingembodied in a sheet feeder there is no need of showing details of thepress and delivery structures and such details have been omitted.

The feeder 3 comprises a frame 6 which carries all the parts of thefeeder proper. The feeder frame 6 is pivoted to the press frame 4 by avertical pivot "I, such pivoting of a feeder frame to a press framebeing well known to those skilled in the art. The pivot 7 in the presentcase preferably comprises a cylindrical shaft disposed in verticalposition and carried by the press frame, the feeder frame havingtrunnions 8 through which the shaft 1 passes so that the feeder framemay pivot about the shaft 1 by turning of the trunnions 8 on the shaft.The drawings show only the upper portion of the feeder and hence showonly the upper trunnion 8. There is also a cooperating lower trunnioncarried by the feeder frame '5 through which the shaft 1 passes near thebottom of the feeder.

The shaft 1 is disposed at one side of the press frame, the side atwhich it is disposed being known to those skilled in the art as the gearside. The opposite side is known as the operators side.

By reason of the pivotal mounting of the feeder upon the press thefeeder can be swung laterally to inoperative position about the pivot 1so as to provide access to the form on the press bed and to the internalportions of the press and feeder. As above indicated, the general typeof mounting of the feeder on the press is well known to those skilled inthe art. The feeder is maintained in proper elevation relatively to thepress by reason of the fact that each of the feeder trunnions 8 bearsupon a stationary portion 9 of the press frame. Thus the entire feedermay move as a unit about the axis of the pivot l and while so movingremains in fixed vertical position.

The feeder frame 6 has opposed projecting portions Iii in each of whichis disposed a flanged bushing Ilia fastened to the portions H) by screwslflb passing through the bushing flanges. A cross shaft H is journaledin the bushings liia. The cross shaft ll performs an important part inthe functioning of the feeder, serving together with the bushings Illaas the horizontal pivot for the feed board and also serving to drive theoscillating carriage along the feed board as will presently bedescribed. The feed board is designated generally by reference numeral[2 and has bearing portions or hubs [2a somewhat offset downwardly,viewing Figures 1 and 6, from the general plane of the feed boardthrough which the bushings Ida and the cross shaft i i pass whereby thefeed board is pivoted to the feeder frame 6 at I the portions l thereoffor turning movement about the axis of the horizontal cross shaft H.

The feed board If is pivoted to the cross shaft H at its mid-portion, i.e., at the portion of the feed board removed from both ends. The feedboard is pivoted to the cross shaft near enough to the longitudinalcenter of the feed board so that, while it will not ordinarily beexactly balanced about the axis of the shaft Ii, it may without greatphysical effort be turned about the axis of the shaft by the operator orpressman. This may be done manually by taking hold of the feed board andturning it about the axis of the cross shaft. The turning is a virtuallyinstantaneous movement whose accomplishment does not require cranking oroperation of any other mechanism. In Figure 7 the feed board is shown inoperative position in solid lines and in inoperative position in chainlines, In the other figures except Figure 3a it is shown in operativeposition; in Figure 3a it is shown in inoperative position. There aretwo reasons for turning the feed board to the inoperative or chain lineposition shown in Figure 7. One reason is to permit limited access .tothe form on the press bed and to the inside of the press. The otherreason is to permit dis= engagement of the feed board from the presswhen it is desired to swing the feeder as a whole about the verticalpivot 1 to inoperative out of the way position to permit full access tothe form on the press bed and to the interior of the press and feeder.When the feed board I2 is in operative position its left-hand endviewing Figure l engages the press as will presently appear, so the feedboard should be moved to the more nearly vertical inoperative positionshown in chain lines in Figure 7 when the feeder is to be swung aboutthe vertical pivot 1 to inoperative position.

The feed board when in its generally horizontal operative position hassomewhat more of its mass disposed to the left of the axis of the shaft1 viewing Figure 1 than to the right of such axis; hence the feed boardis somewhat overbalanced so that its normal tendency is to turn in thecounterclockwise direction about the axis of the shaft ll viewingFigure 1. The amount by which it is out of balance is not great enoughto impose great difficulty in manual turning of the feed board betweenoperative and inoperative positions. Nevertheless it is desirable toemploy means acting on the feed board assisting in raising the heavierend thereof when the feed board is turned from operative to inoperativeposition and cushioning the return of the feed board from inoperative tooperative position. Pivoted to each of the opposed downwardly projectingportions of the feed board at I227 is a rod which passes through aguiding bore lid in a stud [2e pivoted to the inside of thecorresponding feeder frame portion ID as shown in Figure l. Acompression coil spring [2f is disposed between the connection of eachrod I20 to the feed board and the stud 12c. When the feed board is inoperative position the springs [2 are compressed. When the feed board isturned about the axis of the shaft I i to inoperative position thesprings 12 counteract to a desired extent the overbalance of the feedboard and facilitate the turning. As the feed board approaches verticalposition the overbalance diminishes as does also the effect of thesprings [2f since by reason of the fact that the pivots [2b are movinggenerally toward the left viewing Figure 1 away from the studs [26 thesprings I2 are allowed to expand. When the feed board is turned backfrom inoperative to operative position the springs l2 cushion itsmovement, becoming progressively mor and more effective as the feedboard nears operative position until they attain their maximumeifectiveness when operative position is reached.

The feed board has near its end which cooperates with the impressioncylinder 5 lugs [2g threadedly receiving screws iZ-h, each of which ismaintained in desired adjusted position by a nut Hi. The screws 12hproject from the bottoms of the lugs 12g and when the feed board settlesinto operative position enter sockets 29 formed to receive them in thepress frame. The screws i2h thus accurately position the feed boardrelatively to the press frame and hence relatively to the impressioncylinder and cooperate with the locking means presently to be describedto maintain the feed board accurately positioned. By reason of theirentry into the sockets I27 the screws prevent undesired lateral movementor skewing of the feed board.

A carriage is carried by and oscillates along the feed board to effectthe feeding of sheets one by one to the impression cylinder 5. Thecarriage itself may be conventional. It is shown in the drawings at l3but is not illustrated in detail because the specific mechanism of thecarriage does not constitute the present invention. The carriage mountedin guides on the feed board to oscillate back and forth along the feedboard generally in the plane of the feed board as known to those skilledin the art. The carriage has on its bottom two downwardly facing racks14 each meshing with a pinion l fastened to the shaft l I. The racks Mare positioned at opposite sides of and preferably substantiallyequidistant from the center line of the carriage. Means presently to bedescribed are provided for oscillating the shaft 1 l and since eachpinion I5 is fixed to the shaft H and must turn therewith and is at alltimes in mesh with the corresponding rack l4 oscillation of the shaft Il causes oscillatory movement of the carriage l3 along the feed board.

The carria e I3 is equipped with means well known to those skilled inthe art for advancing sheets one by one along the feed board from thetop of the pile of sheets in the feeder to the impression cylinder whereeach sheet is side and front registered to the impression cylinder andtaken from registry by the cylinder grippers. All this is standardfeeder structure and hence is not shown in detail. An effort has beenmade to eliminate from the drawings as many parts as possible which donot constitute the invention herein claimed. The means on the carriagfor advancing the sheets one by one along the feed board may bepneumatic means. For example, there may be two sets of suckers on thecarriage, one at each end of the carriage. The set of suckers at thefeeder end of the carriage may take a sheet from other suckers whichlift it from the top of the pile and upon movement of the carriagetoward the impression cylinder feed that sheet to a position about halfway along the feed board where the sheet may be released by the suckerson the carriage and retained by stationary suckers in the feed table[21c which is the sheet supporting portion of the feed board. Thecarriage may then move back toward the feeder end of the feed board andupon the succeeding motion toward the impression cylinder the suckers onthe end of the carriage nearer the impression cylinder may take thesheet from its intermediate position on the feed table and deliver it toa point of registry at the front or cylinder end of the feed board;after the sheet is front and side registered the sheet is taken from thefeed board by the cylinder grippers. This type of sheet handling in asheet feeder is known to those skilled in the art.

A manually operated latch pin It is provided in the feeder frame 5 atthe operators side to hold the feed board in uptilted or inoperativeposition as shown chain lines in Figure 7. The latch pin may he springpressed inwardly so that when the feed board moves to inoperativeposition a cam on the feed board may depress the pin outwardly until aportion of the feed board has passed the pin. whereupon the pin may beres leased to be projected inwardly by its spring to positively hold thefeed board against turning back to operative position until the latchpin is manually pulled out by the operator. Thus at the will of theoperator the feed board can be latched in. inoperative position but by asimple manual operation of pulling out the latch pin the feed board canhe released for turning move ment back to operative position, whichturning movement, as above indicated, canbe effected in a virtuallyinstantaneous manual operation due tothe fact that thefeedboardismountedto turn about the axis of the shaft 1 l at itsmid-portion.

The press frame 4 has a portion l'l projecting toward the feeder, suchportion having an underface it with which the upper end of an.adjustable screw IQ is adapted to engage, the screw t9 being maintainedby a nut 20 in, adjusted posi: tion in the endof a hook-shaped arm 2!fixed to a cross shaft: 22 journaled in the feed board 12. The shaft 22.extends across the feed board from side to side of the feeder and at theoperators side has fixed to it a handle 23 whereby the operator may turnthe shaft 22 between a position in which the feed board is locked to thepress; as shown in solid lines in Figures 1-4 and "I and. a position inwhich the arm 2| is turned in the counterclockwise direction from theposition in which it is shown in Figure 4 so as to be out of contactwith the portion I I of the press frame; such position of the arm 2| isshown in chain lines in Figure 7 and in solid lines in Figure 3a.Movement of the arm 2| to the inoperative or chain line position ofFigure 7 and solid line position of Figure 3a unlocks the feed boardfrom the press so that the feed board may be swung up to. inoperativeposition.

Fixed to the shaft 22 is an arm 24 to the outer end of which is pivotedat 25 a rod 2t extending towardthe feeder end of the apparatus and havme a hook-shaped end 21. The rod 26 passes through an opening providedtherefor in a guide member 28 pivoted in the side of the feed board.When the feed board is locked to the press as shown in Figure 4 the arm24. holds the hook 21 in a position relatively close to the feeder endof the apparatus in which the hook 21 is inoperative. While the hook isdisposed in the plane of the path of the carriage along the feed boardit is positioned beyond the end of the path of the carriage initsmovement toward the feeder end of the apparatus and hence can have nofunction. When, however, the shaft 22 is turned through approximatelyhalf a revolution from the posi: tion in which the feed board is lockedto. the press. to the position indicated in chain lines in Figure 7 andin solid lines in Figure 3a in which the feed board is unlocked the arm24 causes movement of the hook 21 to the left viewing Figure 4} so thatit intercepts the carriage if the carriage moves toward the feeder endof the 8Q! paratus. When in that position the hook 21 positivelyprevents the carriage, when the feed board is turned up to the chainline position of Figure 7 and the solid line position of Figure M, fromstriking the pile of sheets in the feeder; in other words, the hooklimits the extent to which the carriage can move when the feed board isturned so that gravity tends to move the carriage to ward the feeder endof the apparatus. Were it not for the hook 2'! the carriage would strikethe pile of sheets in the feeder when moving the feed board to uptiltedposition. The hook 2'! is resilient and when the carriage moves towardthe feeder end of the apparatus a transverse member 21a on the carriageis pressed into the hook, which yields slightly to permit the stud toenter it. Thereafter the hook not only positively prevents the carriagefrom moving toward the feeder end of the apparatus far enough to strikethe pile of sheets in the feeder but also by its resilient action holdsthe carriage against movement toward the press. Thus the book 2! whichis automatically moved to operative position when the feed board isunlocked from the press serves to hold the carriage against undesiredmovement due to gravity in either direction along the feed board.Nevertheless the carriage can be disengaged from the hook by theoperator by simply moving the carriage toward the end of the feed boardnearer the impression cylinder whereby to release the member 21a fromthe resilient grip of the hook thereon. When the feed board is againlocked to the press the hook 21 is moved out to its inoperative positionas shown in Figure i where it is disposed beyond the end of the path ofthe portion of the carriage which is adapted to engage with the hookwhen the latter is in its operative position.

Fastened to the extremity of the shaft 22 which is disposed at the gearside of the feeder is a sleeve 2% from which projects an arm 36generally parallel to the axis of the shaft 22, the outer extremity ofthe arm 3 being turned inwardly at right angles to and intersecting theaxis of the shaft 22 as shown at 3|. The portion has therein a slot 32which is elongated transversely of and intersects the axis of the shaft22. A pin in the form of a bolt 33 is disposed in the slot 32 and isadapted for movement along the slot as will presently be described. Thebolt 33 also passes through a circular bore 34 in the longer arm of anL-shaped member 35 whose shorter arm is fastened at 36 to a rod 31'pivoted at 38 to an arm 39 of a bell crank lever 46 pivoted at 4! to abracket 32 forming part of the feed board. The other arm 43 of the bellcrank lever. ill carries at its extremity a hub id within which isdisposed a pin which rides in a peripheral groove 46 formed in a pinionM mounted on the shaft H for both free turning movement and slidingmovement along the shaft. Keyed to the shaft 5 l at 48 and also heldagainst movement axially of the shaft is an inside gear 49 with whichthe pinion 4'! is adapted to mesh when moved toward the right to theposition shown in Figure 6. The pinion has a bore 53 parallel to itsaxis but disposed at one side thereof into which a pin Ell is driven andthe inside gear it has a bore 52 which guidingly receives the pin 5!when the pinion M is moved toward the inside gear 39. The pin 5! ridesaround the surface es of the inside gear is, which surface isintersected by the bore 52, until the pin 5! enters the bore 52whereupon the pinion All is permitted to move into mesh with the insidegear u 49. The function of the pin 5i is to insure that when the pinioni! moves into mesh with the inside gear 49 it will do so in proper timedre-' lationship so that the carriage will be operated in propercooperative relationship with other elements of the apparatus. shaft His journaled in a bearing 54 disposed within a hub 55 forming a portionof the feeder frame 5, another portion of'which is shaped as a hood 5dcovering the pinion All and the inside ear 49.

' Projecting from the feed board if at the gear The outer end of the theannular groove 46 of the pinion 41 maintains the pinion 41 in mesh withthe inside gear 49.7 When, however, the shaft 22 is turned throughapproximately half a revolution to the position in which the feed boardis unlocked from the press the member 23-39-23! is likewise turnedthrough approximately half a revolution with the result that the pin 33is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 by engagement therewith of theend of the slot 32 nearest the portion 353. Due to such movement the rod3? is moved toward the left viewing Figure 5 and the bell crank lever 40is turned in the clockwise direction about the axis of the pivot 41against the action of the spring 58 to withdraw the pinion 4? toward theleft viewing Figure 6 out of mesh with the inside gear 1-39. Thus whenthe feed board is locked to the press the spring 53 is free to move thepinion 4'5 into mesh with the inside gear 49 and maintain it in meshtherewith while when the feed board is unlocked from the press thepinion 4'! is withdrawn from mesh with the inside gear 49. The slot 32is elongated to prevent binding of the parts upon locking of the feedboard to the press. As will presently be described, the pinion 4!partakes of constant oscillatory movement and if the slot 32 were notelongated there would be danger of damage to the parts upon turning ofthe shaft 22 which would force the pinion lll against the inside geard9. Since the pinion Al can only move into mesh with the inside gear aswhen the pin 5! enters the bore as it is important that the force urgingthe pinion into mesh with the inside gear be a resilient rather than apositive force. The resilient force is supplied by the spring 53,

I the function of the member 2il-='id3l with the side of the apparatusis a pin 57 to which is fastened one end of a tension coil spring 58,the

other end of which is connected with the bottom of the pivot pin 38. Thespring 58 tends at all times to turn the bell crank lever 40 in thecounterclockwise direction viewing Figure 5 about the axis of the pivotM.

When the shaft 222 is in the position which it occupies when the feedboard l2 is locked to the press the member 2ii3fi-3i is in the positionshown in Figure 5 and the spring 58 maintains the bell crank lever diiin the position shown in Figures 5 and 6 in which the pin 45 operatingin elongated slot 32 therein being to permit the spring as to move thepinion 41 toward the right viewing Figure 6 into mesh with the insidegear It is important that when the feed board is in its uptiltedposition as shown in chain lines in Figure 7 the pinion A! be maintainedout of en- 7 gagement with the inside gear 49 even though the shaft 22be turned to the position of Figure 5. To this end there is fastened tothe feeder frame a stop member 59 which is stationarily dis-.

posed in position so that when the feed board [2 is turned up toinoperative position the arm 38 of the bell crank lever 46 will engagethe stop member 59, which member will by engagement with the arm 39positively hold the pinion 4'! out of mesh with the inside gear 39regardless of the position to which the shaft 22 may be turned' In otherwords, the stop member 59 renders inoperative the spring 53 to move thepinion 4? into mesh with the inside gear 49 when the feed board is inuptilted position. When the feed board is moved back to operativeposition the arm 39 moves away from the stop member 59, allowing thespring 58 to become operative to urge the bell crank lever t!) to turnin the counterclockwise direction viewing rgure 5. r

The shaft 22 base radial lug 22a to which is pivoted at 22b a rod 220passing through a slot 22:1 in a stud 22c pivotally mounted in a lug 22fintegral with and projecting downwardly from the feed board I2. Acompression coil spring 22g bears between the connection of the rod 220with the lug 22a and the stud 226. Thus there is provided an overcenterholding device resiliently acting on the shaft 22 to hold it in each ofits two positions as clearly shown in Figure '7.

Another stop member is threaded into the feed board at 6| and carries anadjustable stop screw 62 maintained in adjusted position by a nut 63adapted to engage the outer end of the arm 39 of the bell crank lever 40when the pinion 4'! has been moved into mesh with the in side gear 49 torelieve the inside gear I! of substantial axial thrust by the pinion 47.In other words. the thrust is taken by non-rotating means instead of byrotating means so that no substantial wear is occasioned thereby.

By reason of the provision of the annular groove 46 in the pinion 41 thepin 45 rides in that groove at all times regardless of the angularposition of the feed board I! about the axis of the shaft l i. In otherwords, the operating means for the pinion 41 remains continuously inengagement in all angular positions of the feed board about the axis ofthe shaft H.

Disposed about the vertical shaft 1 above the upper trunnion 8 is ahollow circular rack 64. The rack 64 is in the form of a sleeve mountedon the shaft 1 for guided movement parallel to the axis of that shaft.At its lower end the rack 54 has a sleeve portion 65 having therein anoutwardly facing annular groove 66. Surrounding the sleeve portion 65 isa driving member 61 through which pass bolts 68 which enter the annulargroove 56. The driving member 61 has two spaced apart outwardlyprojecting lugs 69 to which is pivoted at 10 a link ll having its upperend disposed between the lugs 69 connected with a crank motiondrivenfrom the press drive, the crank motion being conventional and hence notbeing shown in detail. Driving of the press operates the crank motion tocause the link H to oscillate the circular rack 64 up and down on thevertical shaft 1. The circular rack 64 is at all times in mesh with thepinion 41 so that during operation of the apparatus the circular rack iscontinuously moving up and down and the pinion 41 is continuouslyoscillating angularly about the axis of the shaft 1 l. The pinion 41 maywhile so oscillating be moved along the axis of the shaft l I as abovedescribed. Thus the connection from the press drive to thefeeder foroscillating the feeder carriage is maintained at all times, the meansfor movingthe pinion 4'! axially of the shaft l I being the controlmeans determining whether or not at any particular time the feedercarriage is oscillated. As above explained, the control means remainsoperable when the feed board is tilted since tilting of the feed boardsimply moves the pin 45 around the annular slot 45.

When the feeder is swung out to inoperative position about the axisofthe shaft lthe pinion 41 remains in mesh with the circular rack 34,moving bodily about the axis of the shaft 1 at the same time.Consequently even swinging of the feeder out to inoperative positiondoes not disengage the connection from the press drive for operating thefeeder carriage.

Disposed about the circular rack 64 just above the driving member 61 isa collar (2 which is constrained to move up and down with the circularrack at but, as will presently be described, turns relatively theretowhen the feeder is swung out about the axis of the shaft 1 toinoperative position. A rod l3 ispivoted at to a lever and extendsdownwardly through an eye id in the collar 12 and thence through aguiding bore il in the feeder frame. Collars H! are fastened to the rod13 immediately above andbelow the collar 12. Thus up and down movementof the circular rack 64 causes up and down movement of the rod 13. Whenthe feederis swung out to inoperative position about the axis of theshaft 1 the rod 13 causes the collar 12 to turn about the circular rack64.

The lever 15 has a hub portion 79 through which passes a shaft 80. Thelever 15 is freely t'urnable upon the shaft 30. The shaft 80 isjournaled in the feeder frame and has keyed thereto two worms 8| ofopposite hand. Each of the worms Bl meshes with a worm wheel 82. Eachworm wheel 82 is keyed to a longitudinal shaft 83, one of the shafts 83being adjacent one side of the feeder and the other being adjacent theopposite side of the feeder. Thus turning of the shaft to turns the twoshafts 83 but in opposite directions.

Keyed to each shaft 83 are two sprockets 84. An endless sprocket chain85 is trained about and depends from each of the four sprockets 84. Thepile support 86 has spaced apart downwardly projecting ribs 81 so thatwhen it is set down on the floor the peel of a carrier truck may beprojected beneath the body of the pile support to lift it and carry itabout. The pile support '86 is fastened to each of the four chains 84 atthe inside reach thereof. The manner of fastening of the pile support tothe chains does not constitute the present invention but may beconventional and hence is not shown in detail.

Thus when the shaft 89 is turned in one direction the pile support israised and when theshaft till is turned in the opposite direction thepile support is lowered.

Keyed to the shaft 80 is a ratchet 85..The ratchet is arranged on theshaft in such relation to the worms 8! that when the shaft 80 is turnedin the clockwise direction viewing Figure 10 the pile support 86 israised.

An integral projection 89 extends out radially from the hub 19 and hasiournaled in its outer end at 99 a short shaft 9i which at one end hasfixed thereto a pawl 92 disposed directly above the ratchet 88 and atthe other end hasfixed thereto a follower member 93 comprising a curvedneck portion 94 and an elongated operating portion 95. The operatingportion 95 has a lateral projection 95 projecting from the operatingportion 95 in a direction away from the pawl 92.

An integral projection 91 extends out radially from the hub '59 and hastherein an elongated slot 98. The left-hand face of the projection 9!viewing Figure 10 is curved to act as a cam. A rod 95 is disposedgenerally horizontally and passes through the slot 98 in the projection91. The rod 99 is adjacent .one end guided in a guide ill!) fixed to thefeeder frame and is at its other end pivotally connected by a pin iii!to a pair of spaced apart, generally downwardly projecting arms I 02fixed to a shaft llo-lvmountedfor rotation in the feeder frame. Agenerally horizontally extending arm Midis also fixed to the: shaft I84.Pivoted to the arm I05. at its is a downwardly projecting feeler I01whose lower extremity is adapted to engage the top of apilc of sheets onthe pile support 86. The feeler N1 is guided within a'guide we carriedby the feeder frame. Thus axial oscillation of the rod 99 causesgenerally vertical oscillation 'ofthe feeler iil'l.

Fixed to the rod 99 is a collar I09 againstwhich bears acompression'coil spring liil, the opposite end of which bears against awasher ill which lies against the cam face of the projection 57. A pinH2 extends through therod Myand serves member 93 which permits the pawl9'2.

' ment toward the 7 beyond the portion out of engagement with the tolimit the extent to which the spring H9 may expand. A tension coilspring H3 is fastened at one end of a stud I I4 carried by the feederframe and at the other end to a stud I93 threaded intothe pin I9| andtends to raise the feeler It? up wardly out of contact with the top ofthe pile of sheets on the pile support 86.

Pivoted to the feeder frame at H5 is a detent H9 having an operatingportion II'I normally disposed beneath the portion 99 of the member 93as shown in Figure 11. The detent IE9 is of generally inverted L-shape,extending upwardly and then laterally from the pivot H55. In thelaterally or generally horizontally extending portion of the detent H6is threaded a screw Hit maintained in adjusted position by a nut IE9.The screw projects downwardly from the detent.

' A cam I29 is fixed to the rod 99 and is positioned thereon so thatwhen the rod 99 moves toward the left viewing Figure 10 a predetermineddistance it will engage the bottom of the screw H and thence cam thedetent lit to turn in the counterclockwise direction about the pivot H5viewing Figure 11 until the portion Ill moves out of the path of theportion 99 of the follower to drop into engagement with the ratchet 98.The rod 99 also has fixed thereto a stop member Iii which limitsmovement of the rod toward the right viewing Figure 19 by engagementwith the guide I99.

The operation of the pile governor will now be described. The lever I5partakes or continuous angular oscillation during operation of theapparatus. Normally the portion II? of the detent IIB lies beneath theportion 96 of the follower member 93 so that as the lever '55 oscillatesthe follower member 93, being itself held up by the portion III of thedetent, in turn holds the pawl 92 out of operative engagement with theratchet 88. Viewing Figure 10, as the follower member 93 moves towardthe right in clockwise angular movement about the axis of the shaft 99the under surface of the portion 99 thereof ridesatop the portion IEI ofthe detent I9 which maintains the pawl 92 out of operative engagementwith the ratchet 88. However, at the end of the angular oscillatorymovement toward the right viewing Figure 10 of the follower member 93the left-hand extremity of the portion 99 passes beyond the portion IIIof the detent and at that time the pawl '92, having passed two teeth ofthe ratchet, is permitted to come into engagement with the ratchetbeyond the second passed tooth, but such engagement is not operativeengagement as the pawl does not have any effect on the ratchet. It is,however, important that at the end of the angular oscillatory moverightviewing Figure 19 of the 93 the portion 99 thereof pass III of thedetent Ilia so that upon the return movement toward the left of thefollower member 93 the portion 99 will al- Ways ride upon the portion .Ill r'egardless of whether or not the portion I H has been beneath and inoperative engagement with the portion 96 during the previous angularoscillation of the follower member 99 toward the right.

Thus ordinarily the pawl 92 is held out of operative engagement with theratchet 88 and follower member simply partakes of constant oscillationabout the 7 axis of the shaft 89 without performing any function. V V

The spring IIB'urges the ieeler I91 upwardly top of the pile of 16sheets on the pile support 86. Upward movement of the feeler I91 islimited by engagement of the stop member I2I with the guide I99. Whenthe lever I5 is at the extreme clockwise end of its angular oscillationabout the axis of the shaft 89 viewing Figure 10 the projection 9'! hasmoved toward the right from the position in which it is shown in Figure19 so that pressure on the spring H9 has been relieved sufficiently topermit the spring H3 to raise the feeler I91, and the rod 99 is in itsextreme righthand position with the stop member I2I against the guideI99 and the right-hand end of spring H9 and the washer HI are stopped bythe pin 1 It. On the succeeding counterclockwise oscillatory movement ofthe lever 15 the projection 91 compresses the spring H9. Compression ofthe spring H9 continues until the force exerted thereby against the rod99 through the collar I99 thereon overcomes the action of the spring H3,whereupon the feeler I9"! is moved downwardly into engagement with thetop of the pile. Any overtravel of the projection 97 after the feelerI99 has engaged the top of the pile is taken up by further compressionof the spring H9.

When the top of the pile is within the operative height range so thatraising of the pile to maintain its top within that range is notimmediately necessary engagement of the feeler with the top of the pilestops movement of the rod 99 toward the left viewing Figure 19 beforethe cam I29 fastened to the rod 99 comes into engagement with the bottomof the screw H8.

'Thus nothing is done to remove the portion In of the detent II9-frombeneath the portion 99 of the follower member 93 and the feeler I9! andthe rod 99 merely oscillate without turning the shaft 80.

When enough'sheets have been removed from the pile that raising of thepile to bring its top into the operative height range is indicated thefeeler I9'I moves down far enough before engaging the top of the pilethat the cam I29 engages the bottom of the screw H9 and tilts the detentH6 so that the detent turns in the counterclockwise direction about thepivot H5 Vl8W- ing Figure 11. Such tilting of the detent H9 at firstslightly raises the follower member 93 until the portion I ll of thedetent clears the edge of the portion 96 of the follower memberwhereupon the follower member drops down. Since the pawl 92 is rigidlyconnected with the follower member by means of the short shaft 9! so asto be in effect integral therewith the pawl 92 likewise drops down (i.e., turns in the clockwise. direction about the axis of the shaft 9iviewing Figure 19) until it comes into operative engagement with theratchet 99. This always happens when the lever I9 is at the extremecounterclockwise extremity of its angular oscil lation about the axis ofthe shaft 99 viewing Figure 19 since it is only at that time that thecam I29 can engage the bottom of the screw H9. As soon as the lever I5commences the next clockwise oscillatory movement viewing Figure 10 thecam I29 immediately moves out of contact with the bottom of the screw H9permitting the detent H9 to turn back in the clockwise direction aboutthe pivot Iii: viewing Figure 11 until the lower right-hand corner of Ithe portion In viewing Figure 11 engages the 7 side of the followermember 93' which it W111 be remembered has dropped down to permit thepawl 92 to operatively engage the ratchet 88.

As clockwise movement of the lever I viewing Figure 1.0 continues thepawl 92 which is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88 turns theshaft 80 in the clockwise direction viewing Figum 10. The shaft 80through the worms 8I and the worm wheels 82 turns the shafts 83outwardly to raise the inner reaches of the chains 85 and hence move thepile support 8.6 upwardly through an increment of movement. As the leverI5 reaches the clockwise extremity of its angular oscillatory movementviewing Figure 10 the portion II! of the detent I I6, which has beenriding with the detent in slightly tilted position along the side faceof the follower member 33, passes beyond the end of the portion 96 ofthe follower member 93 so that upon the succeeding counterclockwisemovement of the lever I5 the portion ,II'I again moves under the portion'96 and raises the follower member 93. Thus upon each counterclockwisemovement of the lever I5 viewing Figure 10 the portion II! of the detentH6 is always beneath the portion 96 of the follower member 93 and holdsup the follower member and the pawl 92. Turning of the detent II-6 inthe clockwise direction about the pivot H5 is limited by engagement of apin I22 in the side of the detent with the head I23 of a screw I24 inthe feeder frame serving as a stop member. The screw I24 is maintainedin adjusted position by a nut I25.

A hand crank I26 has a hub I21 through which the shaft 80 passes. Theshaft 8!) has a pin I28 extending therethrough and projecting bothupwardly and downwardly therefrom and the hub I21 has opposed lateralrecesses or pockets I29 therein adapted to receive the projecting endsof the pin I28 when the crank I26 is moved toward the left viewingFigure 11 or upwardly viewing Figure 9. The crank I26 is maintained onthe shaft 80 but is allowed suflicient freedom of movement axially ofthe shaft to be moved into and out of engagement with the pin 1 28 by .astop pin I30. The crank I26 is used formanually raising or lowering thepile support. The pile support maybe raised by the crank I425 at anytime and may be lowered by the crank I26 at any time except when thepawl 92 is in operative engagement with the ratchet 88.

The feeder is equipped with the usual side registering or side guidingmeans operated by the usual transversely oscillatable rod -I-3I which inturn is oscillated by the usual three-armed lever I32. Projecting fromthe rod I3I is a pin I33 received within a yoke I34 in theend of one armI35 of the lever I32. The lever L32 is pivoted to the feed board at I35.Oscillation of the lever I32 about the pivot I36 oscillates the rod I.3Itransversely of the feed board to side register the sheets in wellknownmanner. Since the side registering means per so do not constitutethe present invention such means are not shown in detail.

The lever I32 is oscillated by a link I31. When the sheets are to beregistered to one side of the feed board the link I31 is pivotallyconnected to the second arm I38 of the three-armed lever I32 while whenthe sheets are to be registered to the other side of the feed board thelink I3! is pivotally connected to the third arm I39 of the threearmedlever I32; this is standard feeder structure.

However, improved means are provided for oscillating the link I31. Thatlink is pivoted at I40 to an upwardly projecting arm I4I of a bell cranklever I42 pivoted to the feed board at I43. The lower arm I44 of thebell crank lever I42 carries a follower I45 which extends through anopening I45a in the feed board I2 and operates in a cam roove I46 in theoutside face of the carriage oscillating pinion I5 or if there be twosuch p nions the one disposed at the r side of the feeder. This providesan extremely simple and eifective means for operating the sideregistering or side guiding mechanism.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of theinvention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scopeof the following claims.

Iclaim:

.1. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means carried entirely by the material supporting member mounted formovement relatively to the mate rial supporting member for advancingmaterial along the material supporting member, a pivotal mounting forthe material supporting member pivotally carrying the materialsupporting member at the mid-portion of the material supporting memberwhereby it is approximately balanced enabling it to be easily andquickly turned by hand about the pivotal mounting so that the materialsupporting member may assume different positions about the pivotalmounting and means for fastening the material supporting member in atleast one of such positions.

2. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means movably mounted in its entirety on the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a generallyhorizontal pivotal mounting for the material supporting member pivotallycarrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion of thematerial supporting member whereby it is approxiately balanced enablingit to be easily and quickly turned by hand about the pivotal mounting sothat the material supporting member is pivotally movable on said pivotalmounting between operative and inoperative positions and means forfastening the material supporting member in operative position.

3. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, drivingmeans for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the materialsupporting member, a pivotal mounting for the materialsupporting memberpivotally carrying the material supporting member at themidportion ofthe material supporting member so that the material supporting member ispivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative andinoperative positions, a control member, means connected with thecontrol member actuated by movement of the control member in onedirection for fastening the material supporting member in operativeposition and means connected with the control member actuated bymovement of the control member in the opposite direction for rending thedriving means inoperative to drive the first mentioned means.

4. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member.means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, drivingmeans for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the materialsupporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting memberpivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion ofthe material supporting member so that the material supporting member ispivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative andinoperative positions and means connected with the mateative andinoperative positions and means connected with the material supportingmember adapted to be moved into the path of the first mentioned meanswhen the material supporting member is in inoperative position to limitmovement of the first mentioned means.

6. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, drivingmeans for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the materialsupporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting memberpivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion ofthe material supporting member so that the material supporting member ispivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative andinoperative positions, means connected. with the material supportingmember maintaining the driving means inoperative to drive the firstmentioned means when the material supporting member is in inoperativeposition and means connected with the material supporting member adaptedto be moved into the path of the first mentioned means when the materialsupporting member is in inoperative position to limit movement of thefirst mentioned means.

7. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the mate- 'rial supporting member, apivotal mounting for the material su porting member pivotally carryingthe material sup-porting member at the midportion of the materialsupporting member so that the material supporting member is pivotallymovable on said pivotal mounting between a relatively horizontaloperative position and a relatively inclined inoperative position andmeans connected with the material supporting member adapted to be movedinto the path of the first mentioned means when the material supporting'member is in inoperative position to limit movement of the firstmentioned means due to gravity.

8. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a pivotalmounting for the material supporting member pivotally carrying thematerial supporting member at the mid-portion of the material supportingmember so that the material supporting member is pivotally movable onsaid pivotal mounting between operative and inoperative positions, acontrol member, means connected with the control member actuated bymovement of the control member in one direction for fastening thematerial supporting member in operative position and means connectedwith the control member actuated by movement of the control member inthe opposite direction limiting movement of the first mentioned means.

9. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, drivingmeans for moving the first mentioned means relatively to the materialsupporting member, a pivotal mounting for the material supporting memberpivotally carrying the material supporting member at the midportion ofthe material supporting member so that the material supporting member ispivotally movable on said pivotal mounting between operative andinoperative positions, a control member, means connected with thecontrol member actuated by movement of the control member in onedirection for rendering the driving means inoperative to drive the firstmentioned means and means connected with the control member actuated bymovement of the control member in said direction limiting movement ofthe first mentioned means while the driving means is inoperative todrive the same.

10. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a mountingfor the material supporting member upon which the material supportingmember is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperativepositions and means movable into the path of the first mentioned meanswhen the material supporting member is in inoperative position to limitmovement of the first mentioned means.

11. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a mountingfor the material supporting member upon which the material supportingmember is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperativepositions and means disposed generally in alignment with the path ofmovement of the first mentioned means and movable toward the firstmentioned means into position to engage the first mentioned means andlimit movement thereof in one direction when the material supportingmember is in inoperative position.

12. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material sup-porting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a mountingfor the material supporting member upon which the material supportingmember is movably mounted for movement between operative and inoperativepositions and means disposed generally in alignment with the path ofmovement of the first mentioned means and movable toward the firstmentioned means and having a portion interengaging the first mentionedmeans when the material supporting member is in inoperative position tohold the first mentioned means against 21 substantial movement in eitherdirection in its Path.

18. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting memhena mountingiorthemaiterial supporting member upon which the material supporting memberis movably mounted v1501* movement between operative and inoperativepositions and a resilient hook disposed generally :in alignment with thepath or movement of the first mentioned means and movable toward thefirst mentioned means so as to :be adapted to resiliently rinterengagewith the first mentioned means when material supporting member is ininoperative posltionto resiliently hold the first mentioned meansagainst substantial movement ineither direction in its path.

14. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handlingportion mounted for {pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot,oscillatable material handling means carried by the material handlingportion, a pinion carried by theimaterial ,hadling for oscillating theoscillatable material handling means, a rack disposed generally parallelto the axis of the pivot mounted for lengthwise oscillating movement,the pinion meshing with the rock so that lengthwise oscillation of therack oscillates the oscillatable material handling means, the rack beingof a- -transverse shape coinciding with the locus of the portion of thepinion facing'the rack as the material handling portion pivotall-y movesabout the axis of the pivot whereby the pinion remains in mesh with therack in diflerent positions of the material handling portion.

15. Material handling apparatus comprising two material handlingportions, .a pivot pivotally connecting said portions together, a sleevemounted on the pivot for movement axially oi the pivot, one of thematerial handling portions having material handling means oscillatablein a direction transversely of the axis of the pivot, and a drivingconnection between the sleeve and 5 the oscillatahle material handlingmeans effective upon oscillation of the sleeve axially of the pivot tooscillate the oscillatable material handling means.

1 6. Material handling apparatus comprising:

two material handling port-ions, a pivot pivotally connecting saidportions together, a sleeve mounted on the pivot for movement axially ofthe pivot, one of the material handling portions having shiftable means,oscillatable material handling means carried by said shiftable means, adriving connection between the sleeve and the oscillatable materialhandling means effective upon oscillation of the sleeve axially of thepivot to oscillate the oscillatable material handling means, saiddriving connection being adapted to beoperative in one positionof theshit-table means but inoperative in another position of the shiftablemeans, and means for rendering said driving connection inoperative whensaid shifta-ble means is in the first mentioned position :inpreparationfor shifting of said shiftable means to the second mentioned position.

17. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handlingportion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot,oscillatable material handling means carried by the material handlingportion, a pinion carried by the material handling portion foroscillating the oscillatahle material handling mean and a 22transversely convexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot oscillatablealong the pivot, the'pinion meshing with the rack .so that oscillationof the rack along the pivot oscillates the osoillatable materialhandling means and the pinion remains always in mesh with the rack inall positions of the material handling portion.

18. Material handling apparatu oomprisinga pivot, a material handlingportion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, amaterial supporting member mounted on the material handling portion formovement between operative and inoperative positions, oscillatable meanstor advancing material-along the material supporting member, a sleevemounted on. the pivot for movement axially of the pivot, a driving001lnection between the sleeve and the oscillate-hie means efiectiveupon oscillation of the sleeve axlally of the pivot to oscillate theoscillatable means and "means .ior rendering said driving connectioninoperative when the material supporting member is to be moved toinoperative position 19. Material handling apparatus comprisinga pivot,a material portion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of thepivot, a material supporting member swingably-mounted on the materialhandling portion for swingin movement between operative and inoperativepositions, oscillatable means carried by the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member when thematerial supporting member is in operative position, a sleeve mounted onthe pivot for ment axially of the pivot, the sleeve having thereon aoonvexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by thematerial handling portion for oscillating theoscillatable means, thepinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in diiferent positions of thematerial handling portion about'thepivot, and means for disconnectingthe pinion from driving connection with theiosciilatable means so thattheoscillatable means will remain stationary when the materialsupporting member is swung to inoperative position.

20. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handlingportion mounted for pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, amaterial supporting member swingably mounted on the material handlingportion for swinging movement between operative and inomrativepositions, oscillatable means carried by the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member when thematerial supporting member is inoperative position, a sleeve mounted onthe pivot for movementaxiallyot the pivot, the sleeve having thereon aconveidy curved rack-coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by thematerial handling portion for oscillating the osclllatable means, thepinion being mounted to mesh with therack in diflferent of the materialhandling portion about the pivot, means ,for fastening the materialsupporting member in operative position and means for simultaneouslyrendering the fastening means inoperative and disconnecting the pinionfrom driving connection with the oscillatable means. V

21. Material apparatus comprising a pivot, a material handling portionmounted or pivotal movement about the axis of the pivot, a materialsupporting member .swingably mounted on the material handling portionfor swinging movement between operative and inoperative positions,oscillatable means carried by the terial supporting member for advancingmaterial along the material supporting member when the materialsupporting member is in operative position, a sleeve mounted on thepivot for movement axially of the pivot, the sleeve having thereon aconvexly curved rack coaxial with the pivot, a pinion carried by thematerial handling portion for oscillating the oscillatable means, 'thepinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in 'difierent positions ofthe material handling portion about the pivot, means for fastening thematerial supporting member in operative position, means forsimultaneously rendering the fastening means inoperative anddisconnecting the pinion from driving connection with the oscillatablemeans and means carried by the material handling portion positioned whenthe material supporting member is in inoperative position to positivelyblock reestablishment of said driving connection.

22. Material handling apparatus comprising a generally vertical pivot, amaterial handling portion mounted for generally horizontal pivotalmovement about the axis of said pivot, a material supporting member, agenerally horizontal pivotal mounting for the material supporting memberpivotally carrying the material supporting member at the mid-portion ofthe material supporting member so that the material supporting member ispivotally movable on said generally horizontal pivotal mounting betweenoperative and inoperative positions, oscillatable means carried by thematerial supporting member for advancing material along the materialsupporting member when the material supporting member is in operativeposition, a sleeve mounted on the generally vertical pivot for movementaxially thereof, the sleeve having thereon a convexly curved rackcoaxial with the generally vertical pivot, a pinion carried by thematerial handling portion for oscillating the oscillatable means, thepinion being mounted to mesh with the rack in different positions of thematerial handling portion about the generally vertical pivot, and meansfor disconnecting the pinion from driving connection with theoscillatable means so that the oscillatable means will remain stationarywhen the material supporting member is pivotally moved on said generallyhorizontal pivotal mounting to inoperative position.

23. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, a pivotalmounting for the material supporting member about the axis of which thematerial supporting member may move between operative and inoperativepositions, driving means for driving the first mentioned means, aconnection between the driving means and the first mentioned means,resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative, holdingmeans normally holding the material supporting member in operativeposition and 'means simultaneously rendering inoperative the holdingmeans and rendering said connection inoperative against the action ofsaid resilient means.

' 24. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supportingmember, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supportingmember for advancing material along the "material supporting member, amounting for the material supporting member upon which the materialsupporting member is shiftable between operative and inoperativepositions, driving means for driving the first mentioned means','aconnection between the driving means and the first mentioned means,resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative and meansrendering said connection inoperative against the action of saidresilient means so that when the material supporting member is shiftedto inoperative position the first mentioned means will remainstationary.

I 25. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supportingmember, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supportingmember for advancing material along the material supporting member, amounting for the material supporting member upon which the materialsupporting member is shiftable between operative and inoperativepositions, driving means 'for driving the first mentioned means, aconnection between the driving means and the first mentioned means,resilient means normally maintaining said connection operative and anoperating device for said connection effective in one position tomaintain said connection inoperative against the action of saidresilient means and'in another position freeing said connection topermit said resilient means to render the same operative.

26. Material handling apparatus comprising a material supporting member,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along the material supporting member, drivingmeans for driving the first mentioned means, a connection between thedriving means and the first mentioned means, resilient means normallymaintaining said connection operative and an operating device for saidconnection effective in one position to maintain said connectioninoperative against the action of said resilient means and in anotherposition freeing said connection to permit said resilient means torender the same operative, said operating device comprising a turnableslotted member, means extending therefrom to said connection having aportion with which one end of the slot in said slotted member engageswhen the operating device is in the first mentioned position, saidportion being free to move along the slot when the operating device isin the second mentioned position.

27. Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means,driving means for driving the material conveying means, a connectionbetween the driving means and the material conveying means, resilientmeans normally maintaining said connection operative, a turnable shaft,a member connected with the shaft to turn therewith, said member havinga generally elongated slot, and means extending from said member to saidconnection, said means having a portion with which one end of the slotengages when said member is in one rotative position about the axis ofthe shaft to render said connection inoperative against the action ofsaid resilient means, said portion being, when said member is in anotherrotative position about the axis of the shaft, free to move along theslot so that said resilient means may render said connection operative.I

28. Material handling apparatus comprising a material sup-portingmember, means mounted for movement relatively to the material supportingmember for advancing material along the material supporting member, amounting for the material supporting member upon which the materialsupporting member is shiftable between op.-

29. Material handling apparatus comprising a" material supportingmember,means mounted for movement relatively to the material supporting memberfor advancing material along themate rialsupporting member, amountingfor the material supporting member upon which the mate= rial supportinginember'is shiftabie between oper ative and inoperative positions;driving means for driving the first mentioned means; a connecti'oribetween the driving means and the first mentionedmeans,- anoperating device for said connection effective in one position tomaintain said connection operative and effetitive ailother position" tomaintain said connection i'n-' operative and m'eansrehdered operative byShifti'ligi of the ma'tei i'all sup or tmg member to 11:1 operativeosition for ositively mam-taming said operating. device in the secondmentioned position. i

30; Material handling apparatus comprisinga" material supportingmember;means mounted for movement relatively to the" materiat supporting memberfor advan'cing material along the mate rial supporting member, amountingfor themfa terialsupportihg member upon which the mate-' rial supportingmember is shiftabl betweenoperative and inoperative positiens, drivingmeans for driving the mentioned means; a

connection between the driving means and the first mentioned means; an oerating devise in cluding' a bell crank lever for operating saidconnection' effective inone position tomaintain said connectionoperative and effective in another position to maintain said conneetio'ninoperative and an abutment member carriedby the materialsupportingmember moved into position to abut the bell cranlt'lever whenthe materiai sup portin member is sl iifted to inoperative position toil'naintain the operating device in the second mentioned position whilethe material su fu'sorting member is in inoperative position.

31-; Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means,driving means for driving the material conveying means, a shaftconnected with the material conveying means so that-rotationof the shaftcauses operation of the material Conveying means, a pinion" 611' theshaft, the pinion being at all times'in mesh with the driving means, andmeans for shiftin the pinionalong the shaft between a position in whichthe pinion is" conn'ectedwith the Shaft f0 turn the same and a posit-ionin which the pinion turns freely upon the shaft without turning theshaft.

32. Matrial hafidlifig' ap aratus comprising material conveying means;driving means for driving the material conveying means, shaft connectedwith the material conveying means so that rotation of theshaft causesoperation of" the material conveying means, an inside gear fixed to theshaft, a pinion on the shaft, the

pinion being? at all times in mesh with the driving means, and means forshifting the pin-ion along the shaft between a position in which thepinion is in mesh with the inside gear and a position in which thepinion is out of mesh with the inside gear.

33'. Material handling apparatus comprising material conveying means, adrive shaft for 34. Material handling apparatus comprising a support;material conveying means mounted upon the support and movable thereon toconvey ma-' terial, a drive shaft-mounted on the support for driving thematerial conveying means; a pinion on the drive shaft for operating thesame and a transversely convexly curved oscillatable rack at all timesin mesh with the pinion, the support being turn-able generally about therackwhile the pinion remains in mesh with the rack.

35. Material handling apparatus comprising a support, material conveyingmeans mounted upon the support, a drive shaft for driving the materialconveying means; a pinion on the drive shaft, means for shifting thepinion along the drive shaftbetween a position in which it-drives thedrive shaft and a position in which it turns freely on the drive shaftand a transversely convexly curved oscillatable rack continuously inmesh with the pinion when the latter is in both of said positions andmoving therebetween, the

support being turnable generally about the rack while the pinion remainsin mesh with the rack.

36. Material handling apparatus comprising a support, a drive shaftcarried by the support,

material conveying means mounted upon the support for tilting movementabout the axis of the drive shaft, connections between the drive shaftand the material conveying means whereby the former drives the latter, apinion on the drive shaft, the pinion being shiftable along the driveshaft between a position in which it drives the drive shaft and aposition inwhich it turns freely on thedrive shaft, means for shiftingthe pinion to the second mentioned position when the ma terial conveyingmeans is to be tilted and a. transversely convexly curved oscillatablerack continuously in mesh with the pinion when the latter is in both ofsaid positions and moving therebe'tween, the support being turnablegenerally about the rack while the pinion remains in mesh with the rack.

37. Material handling apparatus comprising a pivot, a support mountedfor turning movement about the pivot, a drive shaft carried bythesupport, material conveying means mounted upon the support fortilting movement about the axis of the drive shaft, connections betweenthe drive shaft and the material conveying means whereby the formerdrives the latter, apinion on the'drive shaft, the pinion beingshiftable alohg the drive shaft between a position inwhich it drives thedrive'shaft and 8? position inwhich it turns-freely on' the drive shaft,means for Shifting the pinion to the second mentioned position when themate rial conveying nieansristo be tilted and a trans;

